And parts of the UK are expected to reach up to 18C tomorrow – making it the hottest day of the year so far at around 5C higher than the English average for April, 11C.

On Saturday people were pictured all over the country enjoying the spring weather – punting on the River Cam in Cambridge and outdoor swimming in The Serpentine, in London’s Hyde Park.

And Miss England 2014 was spotted beaming in the sunshine as she graduated with a degree in medicine from Murray Edwards College, in Cambridge.

Miss England 2014 Carina Tyrell at her graduation from Cambridge today (L) and when she won her crown in 2014. Credit:
SWNS/Getty Images

Forecasters say the temperatures are expected to stay high until Wednesday as warm air and sunshine sweep north from the continent, offering a pleasant change from the turbulent weather Storm Katie brought over the Easter weekend.

Met Office forecaster Craig Snell said: "Warmer air will become widespread on Sunday and a lot of us will notice a slightly warmer feel, slightly muggier. It will be the first widespread warm spell we have seen this year."

Part of Pillow Fight Day taking place in Green Park, LondonCredit:
Paul Grover for the Telegraph

The warmer climate is due to tropical continental air being brought into the UK through a change in wind direction.

Mr Snell said although the weather will be noticeably warmer, we can still expect some April showers, which will get heavier on Monday.

Marked temperature contrasts this weekend for the UK. Parts of the south-east could see highs of 18 °C on Sunday! pic.twitter.com/fsheqUV4Ru